From Crush to Husband (complete)

2 - Dinner with Dad

2 -  Diner with dad

I woke up the next morning, thought I would be feeling rough, but surprisingly, no headache and no hang over, I know I didn’t drink that much last night but with all the drama I was thankful I woke feeling alright. I rolled out of my bed and headed to the bathroom, having a quick shower and doing my normal morning body care regimen. I headed back to my room and grabbed some baggy bottoms and a vest top. Will get dressed up later for dinner with my dad.

I headed to the kitchen with my phone in my back pocket. I hadn’t checked any of the messages or voicemails yet, will wait until I have coffee in my system first. I’m not a morning person until I have a hot coffee in my hands to deal with this drama, yet again.

I got comfy on the sofa and looked at my phones screen, 10 missed calls from Ryan, 5 from Lana, 2 from Neve and 3 voicemails. A text from Lana and a text from Alex.

I listened to the voicemails first, Ryan, shouting at Lana saying she was selfish for leaving me again and that he was getting dropped at his place without her joining him. He must have let it go to voicemail by accident, don’t think I was meant to hear that conversation. The other 2 voicemails were from both from Alex, asking where I was and that he was looking for me in the club.

The text from Lana, was full of apologies, her normal. She must have the message saved because she uses the same excuses and apologises every time.  I quickly ignored it and open the message from Alex, I checked the time he had sent it and it was just after he had left my apartment   You looked cute in your pyjamas, maybe next time I will see what is under them xx  I chuckled to myself. He can dream on. There is no way he is seeing anything of the sort. I’m not falling for his charms or whatever that text was.

Beth woke a little while later, checking I was ok before she went to make breakfast.  We sat and talked a little bit about last night, I showed her the message from last night and she just shook her head. I told her about Alex’s late night visit as well. She was gutted she missed it, she knows my history with him, and she always said we would make a cute couple. I tell her every time that he was out of my league, but she never agrees with me. I mean the guy is a hunk, s*x on legs, could have been a model, that’s how good looking he is.

I’ve always been insecure about my looks and my body. I have done modelling before, when I was in my early teens but only for advertising products as a favour to my dad, but never once took it on as a career, even though the photographer said I would be amazing at it, and I never looked at the photos in the magazines or shops where they were on display.  Beth always says I have a perfect figure, busty with a slim waist and nice hips and bum. Her boyfriend, Frankie, always agrees, especially about my bum. I just never believe them. Especially when my friends say I’m below average for everything. It all kind of f***s with your confidence, you know.

Beth is soon heading out the door to go to work, she is a manager in one of the best restaurants in town, her brother owns it and to get a table in that place you need to wait months, but Beth will always do me a favour if I need a table last minute.

I check my dads message to see what time I was to meet him and where but it didn’t say a time or place, so I called him. The conversation was the shortest one I have ever had with him, he was sounding a bit weird and distant, I asked him several times if he was ok and he just kept saying he was tired. I really didn’t believe him but would get it out of him later when I seen him for dinner, his place at 430pm he said, a bit early for a dinner I thought but let it go.

Its just after 12 noon so I thought I would head out and do some retail therapy, it always makes me feel better, buying a new outfit and shoes and some makeup. I nip into my room and change into my skinny jeans and a fitted t-shirt, I slip on my vans and pull on my leather jacket, I grab my phone, purse and keys and head out.

I’m wandering around the mall when my phone goes off. Lana. I’m still not in the mood to talk to her but she has called four times since I left my apartment. I answer it keeping calm and my emotions at the back of my mind.

“Cassie, I’m sorry about last night. I was just so caught up in the moment” she says

“Yeah. That’s nice. Did you have fun?” I asked as I walk into one of our lingerie store, not really paying much attention to what she is saying, I’ve heard it plenty times before, I spy the newest bra and pant set, think I might buy it.

“Cassie don’t be like that. I’m sorry ok. Can we move past it.”

“Yeah, well, you see Lana. You said that the last time you ditched me and the time before that and if you have not already gathered I’m still a little pissed off about it all. But the last time you told me you were leaving the club. And what about Neve, I haven’t heard from her since last night.” I say as I pick up another couple sets or underwear and head to the checkout to pay for them. I know my size and I know they will fit so I don’t need to try them on.

“Well, I haven’t spoken to Neve since I left the club, she was supposed to wait for you and tell you where we were going?” Lana still going on and on about it,

“Listen, Lana. I seen the four of you getting into the cab together. Give me some credit and cut the bull.  We have been friends for a long time yeah. But I just do not understand, why? Why do you always ditch me like that? last night was the last straw. And to get Alex involved was just out of order. This is nothing to do with him or his friends, and don’t get me started on Ryan.” I said as I hung up and left the store.

I felt a bit better after that, kind of got it all off my chest, still didn’t get a reply from her as to why they always ditched me, but hey, does it matter. If they were proper friends they wouldn’t even think about ditching a friend in a club on their own.

I head back home and see it’s nearly 3pm. I better get my ass in gear and get ready for dinner at my dads.  I head to my room and pull out a nice dress and shoes to wear. I don’t need to go to fancy as it is just at the family home, but still I like to make a bit of an effort. I better get a move on now, its nearly 4pm and it takes about 30 minutes to get there depending on traffic.

I quickly grab my stuff and head out the door, making sure its locked and head to my car. Driving along to dads, I stick on my music and get myself in a better mood, basting The Weekend.  I had been thinking about Lana and Neve the whole time I was getting ready. It was making me feel a bit down and sorry for myself.

I arrived at my dads house about 20 minutes later, as I parked the car on the driveway I noticed another car parked as well. Must be having guest tonight, luckily I dressed up a little bit.  I headed in the door, announcing my arrival as the housekeeper, Maggie, appeared from the direction of the kitchen, she has been working in this house since I was a baby, she was also my nanny when my parents were busy working. She was like an auntie to me and she’s been amazing since my mum past away.

She tells me dad and the guests are in the conservatory at the back of the house, so I head through, wondering to myself who the guests are. I sneak a peek through the glass doors but they all have their backs to me, I can only just see the back of their heads, looks like two men and a woman, sitting with my dad. I bite the bullet and head in.

“Dad” I say as I walk around the sofa that the guests are sitting on, as I get a hug from my dad I turn to see Alex and his parents sitting there. I raise an eyebrow at Alex as he shrugs he shoulders.

“Cassie, my dear, you look lovely as always” Jenny says, Alex’s mother

“Jenny, what a nice surprise, I didn’t realise we were having guests over today” I say as she hugs me, and I look over her shoulder to my dad who is looking nervous, weird.

“Doug, how are you?” I say to Alex’s father as he stands and hugs me and kisses my cheek

“I’m good my dear. All good” he says as he returns to his seat and picks up and drink and sips it.  I nod at Alex who seems just as confused as me. 

“Where is my hug Cassie?” Alex laughs as he pulls me in for a hug.

“I seen you last night and why would I need to hug you?” I say as I push out of his grip. I hear Jenny cough and I turn to look at her and she has a weird grin on her face.  I try to ignore all the weird stares from the 3 parents and concentrate on the conversation.

As the parents talk, me and Alex chat between ourselves. He was asking how I was after last night and if I had heard from either Lana and Neve, I told him of the conversation I had with Lana, he says Ryan has been blowing up his phone most of the day, he’s going to meet up with them later, depending how this dinner goes. He is being a bit flirty, but I try to ignore it especially since the parents are looking at us weirdly.

We all make some small talk but soon are told by Maggie that dinner will be served, so we head through to the dining room, My father sits at the head of the table, while Jenny and Doug sit to his right and I’m sitting to my fathers left with Alex beside me.

We are chatting while eating a delicious dinner as always, cooked by Maggie, she is an amazing cook. Soon we start desert and I feel the atmosphere has changed slightly, my dad and Doug haven’t really said very much since desert was served. Something is going on, I took a quick glance at Alex and he seems to feel it. Again he shrugs his shoulders to me and we continue eating. Hardly any small talk happening now, its all just too weird.

Once we were done, we all head through to the lounge to relax after the amazing food. Now it really is awkward, they are fidgeting and giving each other strange looks.

“What is going on? You are all acting very strange.” I say, I just cannot take this anymore.

“Well… you are right we have some news and we are not sure how you are going to take it?” Doug says, looking at both me and Alex,

“News?” Alex says as he looks to me then his parents.  I raise an eyebrow to my dad who is just sitting shaking his head slightly.

“Well, Ben, you want to explain this or?” Doug starts to say as he looks up to my dad, who stands and goes to the bookcase and pulls out a file and brings it to the table in front of us. Both me and Alex look at the file neither one of us wanting to touch it.

“When our companies merged a long time ago, when both your grandfathers were still with us. They drew up a contract that stated that you would be married before Alex turned 25.” My Dad says as he sits forward in his seat to look at me.

I turned to Alex and kind of felt bad for him, he has to get married before he is 25, that will not go down well with his man w***e reputation. I giggled to myself, making sure not to show any reaction. Then I look up to my dad and he is sitting staring at me.

Alex gets up from his chair, all very quiet he hasn’t said a word yet. He stands in front of the window and sighs.

“So, when grandfather said on his death bed that he had found me a wife, he wasn’t joking” Alex eventually broke the silence.

“You are right son, you were about 12 when this contract was written” Doug says looking back at me.

I’m still a little confused as to why I am involved in this conversation, its between Alex and his parents and if our grandfathers were here they would be involved in the discussion. Wait a minute, my grandfather? What?

“I’m a little confused. Who exactly is getting married?” I ask, they better not say what I think they are going to say

“You and Alex” my dad says, looking at the floor

“Hell to the f**k no” I shout and storm out of the house.